1 Introduction -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Concepts and Histories -- 2.1 Assembly Automation in Europe - Past Experience and Future Trends -- 2.2 Basic Trends in the Physics and Economics of Automated Fabrication and Assembly Operations -- 2.3 Key Characteristics of Assembly Automation Systems -- 2.4 What Do You Mean by Automation Ratio? Definitions by the Japanese Auto Makers -- 3 Diversity of Approaches -- 3.1 Present State and Future Vision of Vehicle Assembly Automation in Mitsubishi Motors Corporation -- 3.2 Development of a new Vehicle Assembly Line at Toyota: Worker-oriented, Autonomous, new Assembly System -- 3.3 Modular Assembly in Mixed-Model Production at Mazda -- 3.4 Production of the NSX at Honda: An Alternative Directionfor Assembly Organization -- 3.5 The Development of an Intelligent Body Assembly System -- 3.6 The Opel Production System -- 3.7 Platform and Modular Concepts at Volkswagen - Their Effects on the Assembly Process -- 3.8 Automation at Renault: Strategy and Form -- 3.9 Building Capabilities in Assembly Automation: Fiat's Experiences from Robogate to the Melfi Plant -- 3.10 The Development of a Reflective Production System Layout at Volvo's Uddevalla Car Assembly Plant -- 4 Issues and Dynamics -- 4.1 Strategies for Assembly Automation in the Automobile Industry -- 4.2 From Fixed to Flexible: Automation and Work Organization Trends from the International Assembly Plant Study -- 4.3 Rolling Back Cycle Times: The Renaissance of the Classic Assembly Line in Final Assembly -- 4.4 Rationalization also Involves Workers - Teamwork in the Mercedes-Benz Lean Concept -- 4.5 Patterns of Work Organization in the German Automobile Industry -- 4.6 The Current Social Form of Automation and a Conceivable Alternative: Experience in France -- 4.7 Worker-Generated Production Improvements in a Reflective Production System - or Kaizen in a Reflective Production System -- 4.8 Advanced Automation or Alternative Production Design? A Reflection on the new Japanese Assembly Plants and the Alternative Approach of Volvo Uddevalla -- 4.9 A Misguided Trajectory? Automatically Guided Vehicles in Auto Assembly -- 4.10 Organizational Change and Assembly Automation in the Dutch Automotive Industry -- 4.11 Recycling and Disassembly - Legal Burden or Strategic Opportunity? -- 5 Conclusions and Outlook -- 5.1 Lessons to be Learnt from the Japanese Style of Production and their Application to Factory Automation -- 5.2 Design Choices for Assembly Systems -- 5.3 Outlook -- 6 The Authors of the Book.